Northeastern University started quite the annual tradition on October 18th, celebrating the first birthday of their community resource dog, Cooper. Students, faculty, and even Cooper’s own family attended what sounds like a true pup celebration.
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Cooper is an English Golden Retriever with a very special job. He works alongside the Northeastern University Police Department as a campus service dog, keeping students safe and providing cuddles.
Given the student turnout for Cooper’s birthday party, it’s clear that he is absolutely beloved.
Students Of Northeastern University Love Cooper
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Most of the students found out about Cooper’s party from his Instagram, @itsnucooper, which they all follow.
“I saw the digital flyer and I was so excited for this,” said Daniel Pasciuto, a first-year International Affairs major. “I’ve been looking forward to it for like a week.”
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Pasciuto went on to tell The Huntington News that these kinds of events on campus provide “good stress relief,” and are “just a happy activity.” He had three mid-terms that same day. “It feels like school is like a side-hustle to seeing the dogs,” he said.
Another student attending the event, Zoe Wernsing, a first-year Behavioral Neuroscience major, told Huntington that she’d never met Cooper in person. She’d only heard about him via Instagram and wasn’t at all disappointed, saying that he was “such a good boy.”
Northeastern Threw Quite The Puppy Soiree
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Many other students attended simply because they heard the commotion or saw the giant Rainbow Room tent the party was thrown in.
Students relayed to Huntington that there were treats for both pups and humans. There was also a dog-friendly cake that Cooper was impatient to tackle, singing, and loads of pups.
All the dogs in attendance were Cooper’s distant siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Cooper’s extended family came from Golden Opportunities for Independence, a non-profit that both breeds and raises service dogs like Cooper.
Now one year old, Cooper has nearly completed his training and has also been getting high marks in the program. “He’s just a year, and his search and rescue skills are amazing,” said Director Pauline Hoegler.
It sure sounds like Cooper has a lifetime achievement award in his future, with this kind of impact at only a year old.
What do you think of Northeastern University’s doggy birthday event for Cooper? Would you have liked to see more events like this on your college campus? Let us know in the comments below.
